Ultraviolet and Visible Lasers: Rare Earth-Doped Waveguide Devices and Non-Linear Optical Extraction Techniques.
Abstract
Over the past three years, AFOSR has supported a combined experiment at the University of Illinois that has focused on the demonstration and development of new coherent sources operating in the ultraviolet and short wavelength portion of the visible (green to violet). This research effort has two thrusts. Emphasis is being placed on the demonstration of fiber and planar waveguide lasers based upon upconversion processes in rare earth doped glasses. These devices have several attractive features for applications in communications, reprographics and medicine (in particular), including: (1) wide tunability (several nm), (2) broad absorption spectra suitable for diode laser pumping, (3) overall efficiencies exceeding 10% despite the required absorption of at least two pump photons, (4) pump-gain medium interaction lengths not normally available with bulk crystals, (5 ) the ability to integrate planar waveguide glass-based lasers with other devices such as EO-modulators and laser diodes, and (6) multiple wavelengths and high quantum efficiencies (>50%). (MM)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA293976
Entities
People
- James Gary Eden
Organizations
- University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign